Chapter 108 Life Is Unpredictable
Alexander’s P. O. V.
My heart pounds in my chest as I drive toward the place, following the live location Edward sent me. I have shared the location with the cops as well.
Fear and desperation stir within me as I think about Alice, alone and vulnerable in that dangerous place. The thought of losing her, the love of my life, is unbearable.
As I burst into the warehouse, my worst fear becomes true. Jackson stands there with a gun in his hand, a twisted expression of anger contorting his face. But what I see next shocks me to my core.
Alice is there, trembling, her eyes wide with terror. My heart aches at the sight of her in danger.
And before I can do something, a gunshot rings out, and my heart stops beating for a second.
But what I see next shocks me to the core.
Edward, the brother I’ve despised for so long, steps in front of Alice, taking the bullet meant for her.
“No!” I scream, my voice filled with pain and disbelief.
He falls to the ground, clutching his chest, blood staining his shirt. Alice’s eyes widen in shock and horror, and Jackson, in a state of shock himself, drops the gun.
I rush to Edward’s side and kneel beside him. My hands tremble as I try to staunch the bleeding. Tears blur my vision as I realize my brother risked his life to protect the woman I love.
I cradle his head in my arms. “Edward, why?” I choke out, my voice filled with emotions.
“She… deserves to live, Alexander…, and I don’t. After this, I can die in peace.” He weakly smiles through the pain, and his voice comes out as a whisper.
“Nothing will happen to you, Edward. Now you deserve to live.” Tears stream down my face as I hold Edward’s hand, praying that he’ll make it through.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
The anger and resentment I held for him seem insignificant in the face of his selfless act to save Alice. I realise he has changed.
He coughs, struggling to speak. “I… I’m so… so sorry, Alice.” He closes his eyes after saying the last words, fixing his eyes on Alice.
“No… you deserve to live now, Edward.” I cry out, hugging him near to my chest.
I can’t believe the person I wanted to kill a few minutes back, now I’m crying in pain at losing him. Life is so unexpected.
Mia arrives there, her eyes wide with shock as she takes in the shocking view. She rushes to Alice’s side and embraces her before sitting on the other side of Edward.
Jackson finally comes to his senses when the police officers who arrive after Mia handcuffs him.
“Let me see my son!” He screams as the police drag him outside while I just weep.
Mia holds Edward’s hand with her shivering hand to check his pulse. “Alexander, he is alive. We should immediately take him to the hospital.” I stop crying upon listening to Mia’s words.
Then, with the help of the police, I immediately take him to the car, while Mia and Alice follow me.
As I settle in the driving seat, Mia sits, placing Edward’s head on her lap.
“Alexander, Aunt is inside. You go to the hospital with Mia. I’ll reach there after dropping her home.” Alice tells me, looking at me through the window as I start the car.
As I look at her with helplessness, she reassures me, “He is gonna be fine, Alexander.”
“You safely drop aunt at home.”
As she gives me a nod, I drive off.
I speed towards the hospital, Mia cradling Edward’s head and trying to comfort him. I steal glances at my brother, who lies unconscious in the backseat, fighting for his life.
Her voice breaks through my thoughts. “Stay focused on the road, Alexander. We’ll get him the help he needs.”
I nod, wiping away my tears. Deep down, I feel guilty for not realising how much my brother had changed.
The way to the hospital feels like an eternity, but we finally arrive. Medical staff rush to take Edward from the car, and I can only watch, feeling helpless, as they wheel him inside. Mia and I follow them.
Alice’s P. O. V.
I arrive at the hospital after dropping Aunt at home and instructing a nurse to take care of her.
When I saw her in the warehouse, she was tied to the chair and unconscious because of the weakness. I brought her home with the help of a police officer, and on the way, I called our family doctor, Clair.
After reaching the waiting room, I find Alexander and Mia sitting there, tensed.
I approach them with a heavy heart. I still can’t believe Edward, the person who tortured me, today he took the bullet meant for me, sacrificing himself to protect me.
“How is he?” I ask, catching their attention.
Alexander looks up at me, his eyes filled with anxiety. “The doctors are operating on him right now. We’re waiting for updates.”
I nod, trying to hold back tears. The emotions are overwhelming, and I think about the selfless act of Edward.
As I sit beside Alexander, taking his hand in mine, he rests his head on my shoulder, gripping my hand tighter.
“He’ll make it, Alexander.” I kiss his head.
After a few seconds of silence, I put up a question, which is making me restless. “Alexander, after torturing me in the past, why did he protect me today, putting his life at risk?”
“Because he has changed, Alice. Now he isn’t the same person who had tortured us.” Mia answers my questions, standing in front of us.
Alexander lifts his head from my shoulder and looks at me. “She’s right, Alice. I never thought I’d see the day when Edward would do something like this. I’m so grateful for him.”
Mia nods in agreement. “I’ve seen a change in him. He’s been trying to make amends for his past actions. Today was the ultimate proof of his transformation.”
Tears well up in my eyes as I realize people can change, even those who have caused unbearable pain in the past.
Mia sits beside me, and we continue to wait for news about Edward’s condition.
I ponder on the twists and turns life can take, and how it can challenge our perceptions and beliefs.
I never thought that I would forgive Edward or even see his face. However, life is truly so unpredictable.
I’m grateful that Edward protected me, but it took a life-threatening situation to reveal his transformation.
Minutes turn into hours in the hospital waiting room, and the burden of uncertainty feels overwhelming for all of us.
Alexander paces across the waiting room in restlessness, and I keep comforting him from time to time with my words.
Finally, a doctor approaches, and we all hold our breath, eager for news of Edward’s condition.
The doctor’s expression is solemn, and he takes a moment before speaking. “We have stabilized him. The surgery was successful in removing the bullet, but he lost a significant amount of blood. He’s in recovery now, and we’ll be monitoring him closely.”
A sigh of relief escapes our lips, and tears of gratitude well up in our eyes. I’m so glad to hear that Edward is safe now. It’s such an immense relief!
Alexander squeezes my hand tightly, and I can see tears glistening in his eyes. “Thank you, doctor. Can we see him?”
The doctor nods. “Yes, but only for a few minutes, because he needs rest. Follow me.”
We follow the doctor through the corridors of the hospital until we reach the ICU.
Edward lies in a hospital bed, connected to various machines, his face pale and fragile. Despite everything he’s done in the past, he looks vulnerable now.
Alexander approaches the bed and places a gentle hand on Edward’s shoulder. “You made it through this, brother.” He whispers with a smile of gratitude on his face.
Mia stands beside me, and we both watch them with a small smiles on our faces. Tears of joy trickle down my cheeks because Alexander got his brother back today.
Edward’s brave sacrifice has opened a door to a new chapter, one where forgiveness and redemption are possible.